Aberdeen, S.D. – After winning three out of four on the road last weekend, the Northern State University softball team will continue NSIC action with a six game lineup this week, facing U-Mary, Augustana University and Wayne State. The Wolves are currently 22-13-1 overall and 7-4-1 in league play. 

The Northern State offense combined for 11 doubles, a triple and 26 runs batted through six conference games last week. As a unit, the Wolves went 53-for-178 from the plate for a team batting average of .298, while holding opponents to 3.50 earned runs per contest.

On the year, NSU continues to maintain a team batting average above .300 with a slugging percentage of .436. Jenna Helgeson leads the squad with 40 hits, ten doubles and 17 walks for an average of .374 from the plate. Katie Dawson is atop the team with 30 runs batted in.

The Wolves have remained strong on defense as well, holding a team fielding percentage of .963. The Northern State pitching staff has held opponents to an average of 3.00 earned runs, with a combined 119 strikeouts.

NSU will face U-Mary on Wednesday, April 12th at 2 and 4 p.m. from Bismarck, N.D., and return home to face Augustana University at 1 and 3 p.m. on Friday, April 15th, as well as Wayne State at 12 and 2 p.m. on Saturday.

About U-Mary

• The Marauders are currently 11-26 overall and 5-7 in the NSIC, with victories over Minot State, Bemidji State, Augustana University and Wayne State.
• U-Mary is batting .259 as a team with an average of 3.10 runs scored per game.
• Rebekkah Keller is leading the team with an average of .388, while Taylor Mendez is atop the team with 22 runs batted in.
• From the mound, Brieann Backes is 5-10 with an earned run average of 4.65.
• The Marauders are led by head coach, Kerry Shaw.

About Augustana University

• In the 2017 season, the Vikings are 24-10 overall and 9-3 in the conference.
• Augustana is currently batting .338 as a team with 5.91 runs scored each game.
• Sarah Kennedy is leading the team with a batting average of .500, including 15 doubles, a triple, 11 homeruns and 38 RBIs.
• Lexy Pederson leads the Vikings from the mound with a record of 13-4 with an ERA of 1.38.
• Gretta Melsted is in her 14^th season with the Augustana softball program. Melsted has led Augustana to the NCAA Tournament in six of the last seven seasons.

About Wayne State

• The Wildcats are currently 7-29 overall on the year with a conference record of 1-11.
• Wayne State is batting .252 as a team with an average of 3.22 runs scored per game.
• Katelyn Wobken is atop the team with a batting average of .331. Wobken has recorded a team-high nine doubles, four triples, two homeruns and 14 RBIs.
• From the mound, Nataliah Hopkins has clinched all seven wins for the Wildcats. Hopkins has an ERA of 5.13 with 51 strikeouts.
• Shelli Manson is in her third season as head softball coach at Wayne State College.